Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-22
DovER's DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
Portion OF the Cocheco Printing Mill,
Burned-Loss 100000.

DOVER, n. H., April 15-The greatest
fire Dover has ever experienced occurred
this afternoon in the Cocheco print works.
1t will involve the loss of 5000, 600 and will
throw 600 operatives out of employment
for probably four to six months. The fire
started in the hat room. In an incredibly
short time the main building of the print
works, where is done all the printing
hanging and drying, was enveloped in n
sheet of flames; so rapidly did the flames
spread that several machine printers and
helpers were compelled to leave their
coats and vests with valuables, watches
and money behind. 1t was with them a
race for life. A report gained circulation
about town that several operatives had
been cremated and this added to the ex-
element fathers, mothers and other rela-
tives were rushing from all directions to
learn the fate of their children and friends.
There were many thrilling scenes but no
body was killed although narrow escapes
from death were numerous.
The roof and all the floors had fallen
into the cellar within 30 minutes after the
alarm had been given, thus showing the
rapidity with which the fire spread. The
principal danger was to the operatives
employed upon the second and third floors
Most of these escaped by jumping from
the windows. One old man, Eli jah Hayes,
aged GO, would not jump and everybody
gave him up for lost, but he managed to
creep to the stairway, leading from the
second to the first floor, when he tainted
and tumbled to the bottom. The firemen
luckily saw him and he was removed in
sensible with face and arms badly burned.
He will recover.
Had their been any wind nothing could
| "a nj tod
with the works. Several times they
caught fire, but as often they were saved.
Hydrants Of the Cocheco mills and print
works proved valuable adjuncts in
fighting the flames. In the base
ment. of the burned building were
the fire communicated to them
three loud explosions followed in rapid
succession. The bare walls of the build
ing are standing yet with the exception of
portion OF the north wall. Five firemen
were in the building when the roof crash
ed into the cellar, but they escaped with
slight bruises. Three steamers and every
available line of hose in the city are play
ing on the ruins and will continue until
morning. In the old packing room which
escaped burning were stored 10000 pieces
OF Cocheco prints, ready for shipment, each
piece containing so yards They were
ruined by water from the sprinklers.
This item of loss alone is S25 600 or $50, 900.
There were IA printing machines in the
building which was $50 feet by rs feet and
four and one-half stories in height
Superintendent Anderson tonight
places the loss at upward OF $3.50, 900 which
is fully covered by insurance in the Manu-.
facturers' Mutual. He said that until the
return OF Treasurer Stockton he could not
say how soon the work Of rebuilding
would begin, but thought it would be
commenced at once. While the fire will
seriously affect the city's business inter
ests the citizens are thankful it will not
interfere with the running of the Cocheco
mills. The latter manufacture $4,000 of
$4,000 pieces of cloth used weekly in the
print works the remaining 1000 pieces be-
ing purchased from out of town mills.
skilled workmen, who will be forced to
seek employment, elsewhere temporarily